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Unread 19-02-2004, 16:52
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ZZII 527 ZZII 527 is offline
"Scale Electric Vehicle"
AKA: Shane Colton
FRC #0097
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Cambridge, MA
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Re: Drill Motor + Gearbox + Breaker Problems

For two years our team has had problems with the helical gears...but we didn't know it. We always had a problem turning with 4 wheels due to the lateral friction involved in tank steering. This year, we though we solved that problem by increasing the wheelbase and moving the front and back wheels closer together. But, the clutch still slipped. In direct drive, the 40A breakers popped, just like you are saying.

If the clutch slips, it probably isn't a problem with the actual motor (which must be providing enough torque to make the clutch slip). It is much more likely that there is just too much resistance somewhere...especially if turning is even harder than driving straight.

So after two years of bad luck with 4WD and the drill motors, we tried something today that we never did before: lubricating the helical gears. The difference was AMAZING. How stupid could we have been! Anyway, if you haven't already tried this, it might help.